This Week: Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town free on Christmas Eve
Kids getting a little squirmy waiting for Santa Claus to show up? Get them out of the house and head over to the Sacramento Zoo or Fairytale Town, both of which are offering free admission on Christmas Eve, which falls on Wednesday.
The zoo is promoting Christmas Eve as a pajama party for patrons. The gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 1:30 p.m. Fairytale Town will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., although guests who are in the park by 2 p.m. can stay and play until 3 p.m.
If you still have presents to buy, many retailers will offer extended hours this week, though some will close earlier than usual on Christmas Eve. Arden Fair mall’s website says it will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the Westfield Galleria at Roseville will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Stores will stay open much later on Monday and Tuesday. Macy’s, for instance, will close its Arden Fair and Roseville stores at midnight both days.
If you want to shop at smaller boutiques, street parking is free after 4:30 p.m. in much of downtown and midtown this week.
Mary Lynne Vellinga
Christmas in Mexico show at Harris Center in Folsom
Ballet Folklórico de Sacramento will present Diciembre Navideño, a production of the evolution of Christmas in Mexico, at 7:30 p.m. today at the Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake, 10 College Parkway Drive, Folsom. The show will feature colorful wardrobes, ancestral sounds, dancers and musicians.
Info: (916) 608-6888 or www.harriscenter.net
California State Parks 150 Years exhibit continues
The California State Parks 150 Years exhibit continues at the California State Railroad Museum, 125 I St., Old Sacramento. Timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of California State Parks in 2014, the exhibit features historic images of parks along with a variety of cultural and natural history objects of importance to state parks. The exhibit will run until year’s end. This week, the museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Christmas, when it is closed.
Info: www.csrmf.org
Downtown ice rink open for holiday skating
The Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink is open for winter holiday skating fun at St. Rose of Lima Park, Seventh and K streets. This week’s schedule is 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Wednesday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Thursday (closed for Christmas).
Info: http://downtownsac.org
‘A Christmas Story’ on big screen at Crest Theatre
The 1983 holiday classic “A Christmas Story” will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Crest Theatre, 1013 K St., Sacramento. The theater will present the movie from a 35 mm print, projecting the film in its original glory. A costume contest will be held before the film to determine who looks best while dressed like a character from the film. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Info: www.crestsacramento.com or (916) 476-3356.
Kwanzaa celebration Friday at Brickhouse Gallery
Celebrate Kwanzaa with family and the community from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Brickhouse Gallery, 2837 36th St., Sacramento. Visitors are invited to bring a dish for the Karamu potluck feast. There will also be a collection for unworn caps, scarves and gloves for the MLK Homeless Shelter drive.
Info: (916) 475-1240.
Sing along with ‘The Sound of Music’ on Friday
The Sound of Music Sing-Along returns to the Crocker Art Museum in two showings, at 2 and 6 p.m. Friday. There will be costume contests, door prizes, goodie bags, yodeling and more.
Info: (916) 808-1182 or www.crockerartmuseum.org
This story was originally published December 21, 2014 at 10:34 PM with the headline "This Week: Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town free on Christmas Eve."